2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
Development of Electrochemically Active WO3/PVDF Membranes for Intensifed Hydrogenation Reactions
The chemical industry currently relies on fossil fuels to produce hydrogen, contributing to global climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. In this work, we are developing a fossil-free method of hydrogen utilization to limit carbon emissions currently tied to hydrogenation reactions. In our approach, hydrogen is activated from water using electrochemically active tungsten-oxide (WO3) membranes in a reactor system. During this presentation, the design, fabrication, and characterization of WO3/PVDF composite membranes will be discussed. Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrate that these WO3/PVDF composites could intercalate hydrogen similarly to benchmark WO3/Nafion inks. Analysis of the reduction peaks exhibited a similar magnitude of the current response, correlating to simmilar redox reaction rates for the hydrogenation of composites. Another telling feature of the intercalation behavior was the change in color [green to blue] of the composite membrane. Further, chronoamperometry measurements reveal the ability of the membranes to conduct hydrogen over micron-scale distances. Finally, WO3/PVDF composites were coated onto carbon felt gas diffusion electrodes and placed into a prototype hydrogenation reactor for gas and liquid permeability testing, finding limited permeability. Present work includes testing the full hydrogen reactor for hydrogen production and incorporating further reactions for carbon upcycling. In summary, this work covers the full cycle of design and fabrication of a WO3/PVDF composite that is capable of electrochemically activating hydrogen from water.